Elastic-fluid turbine



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I APPLICATION HLED AUG. 80. I919- 1,415,266. Patented May 9, 1922.

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verwtof: ch star's-Ri H is Attorneg CHE$TER S. RICE, OF SCI-IENECTAFDY,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIG COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01" NEWYORK.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

misses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application filed August 30,. 1919. Serial No. 320,759.

To all whomit may concern.

Be it known that I, CHESTER S. RICE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to elastic fluid turbines and has for itsobject to provide an improved structure and arrangement for fasteningthe buckets or vane rings on the bucket carrying member or wheel.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention,attention is directed to the accompanying specification and the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of a partof a turbine wheel embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectionalview at right angles with Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the bucket carrying member is illustrated asbeing a wheel comprising a web 5 and a rim 6, the rim being undercut onopposite sides to form annular shoulders 7. Mounted on rim 6 is a ringof turbine buckets 8, the same being provided with slots in their basesforming furcations or legs 9 which straddle rim 6 and have projections10 fitting under shoulders 7. The rim of the wheel is also provided withholding rings 11, behind which fit annular projections 12 on the bottomsof furcations or legs 9. The purpose of rings 11 and projections 12 isto prevent the furcations or legs 9 from spreading latterly.

In Fig. 1, 13 is a filling piece which is used to close the fillingslot, as is well understood, and 13 is the bucket cover.

The arrangement just described forms what is termed an inverteddove-tail type of bucket fastening means and so far as my invention isconcerned may be taken as typical of any type of fastening means.

It will be noted that the bases of they buckets are in contact with eachother just beyond the rim of the wheel and, according to my invention, Iprovide at such points between adjacent bucket holes or openings 14-,which extend transversely of the buckets and are formed partly in onebucket base and partly in the adjacent bucket base. Located in holes 14are pins 15. The holes 14 are preferably formed after the buckets havebeen assembled on the wheel and pins 15 are of such diameter that theymake a tight or drive fit with the holes 14. If desired, a tapered pinmay be used so it will firmly wedge in hole 14 to lock the bucket basestogether. The pins 15 may be slightly shorter than the length of theholes and after being put into place may be fastened therein by peeningover the edges of the holes; or the pins may be longer than the lengthof the holes and riveted on the outside. In the present instance thelatter arrangement is shown.

The pins 15 form in substance a supplemental holding means for thebuckets, being a holding means in addition to that formed by theinter-engaging dove-tail connections, and in case a leg or the legs of abucket should break, the bucket will still be held inplace by theadjacent pins 15.

It will be noted that the holes 1 1 are formed beyond the periphery ofthe bucket carrying member 5 which is a point where the bucket bases arecomparatively thick and have ample strength. By this arrangement theformation of the holes 141 does not weaken or diminish the strength ofthe buckets as a whole.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In combination, a bucketcarrying member, a ring of buckets havingtheir bases fixed thereto, the bases of the buckets being in engagementwith each other just beyond the periphery of the carrying member atwhich points said bases are provided with holes extending transverselyof the member, each hole being formed partly in one bucket base andpartly in the adjacent bucket base, and pins located in said holesmaking a tight fit therewith, said pins forming a supple mental holdingmeans for the ring of buckets.

2. In combination, a bucket carrying member, a ring of buckets thereon,the bases of such buckets being in engagement with Mad each other justbeyond the periphery of said member, and pins located between adjacentbucket bases at the points where they are in engagement, said pinsforming; a supplemental holding means for maintaining the ring ofbuckets in place.

3. In combination, a Wheel having a rim,

a ring of buckets, said ring of buckets being fastened to the rim bydove-tail connections, the bases of adjacent buckets being in engagementWith each other just beyond the

